Olga Steblina, 81
Olga Steblina, 81, passed away Wednesday, May 31, 2006, in Kalispell.
She was born June 17, 1924, in Belarus, Russia, to Makar and Ana Philipchenko.
Olga lived a life that exemplified working through adversity much as did her husband, Yvan Steblina. She was born in a very small village in Belarus during Stalin's regime and was ripped away from her family at the age of 17 to be taken as slave labor into Germany. During the war she experienced much hardship and pain — but with her strong spirit she kept going. She never made it home and always talked about missing her family and wondered what became of them.
She married in 1945 to a man she barely knew but lived a cooperative partnership for 60 years. Together they finally made their way to the United States and were so grateful to be in this country. She knew seven different languages fluently and quickly learned English, though she never lost her accent. Olga worked at any job to ensure the family was taken care of and a good home was provided for her children. She never felt that any job was demeaning if it helped provide.
One thing Olga never lost even in the worst of times was her sense of humor and dry wit. There was always a saying that fit any situation at any given moment. Her comments would even bring a smile to the most stoic person.
Her love of family was always forefront, and strove to keep the small Steblina clan together no matter where the children migrated to.
She was always gardening, growing flowers and vegetables. She believed that live plants always reminded us of life and to live it in beauty and joy. Although her body was riddled with arthritis for more than 40 years, she was never idle. When not gardening, cooking or doing other activities, she would sit down and loved to knit and embroider. The family will always be grateful for the beautiful shawls she made for them with her own hands and her love. It is a memory they will always carry. For anyone who wanted to learn, she was always a willing teacher. There are people in all parts of the U.S. that now know how to cook certain German and Slavic dishes.
She loved deeply and cared genuinely, with an honesty that one recognized immediately. She loved children and cherished her grandchildren. The day she became a grandmother she said she was not to be called Mom but Grandmother because that was a true extension of joy and family.
Olga will be sorely missed. She has become known as a person, a friend and a mother. Her family will miss their times together and the laughter and the talks that they had. She is in a place that is pain free and filled with joy.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Yvan Steblina, in February 2006 and is now survived by her two sons, Nicholas Steblina of Kalispell, and Vladimir Steblina and wife, Susan, of Wenatchee, Wash.; and her daughter, Anna Viera, of Bigfork; also two grandchildren, James Gilbert and Alexandra Steblina.
Funeral services for Olga Steblina will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 3, at the Johnson Mortuary Chapel with burial afterward at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. There will be no public visitation.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Olga's family.